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| September 2012 | Vol 9, Issue 2
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Youth and Family Ministry
NC Synod, ELCA |
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| Greetings! | 
Walking Together...Sharing Christ! Welcome to the Youth & Family E-news for the NC Synod! |
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Joys and Concerns
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* For Josh and Kate - our NC Youth Adults serving in Global Mission sites. * For words of encouragement * For the gift of friends. |
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| News |
* DEADLINE YouthQuake registration closes this Friday at 3pm. Join us on October 6th for our 3-5th grade event at Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church in Hickory (Bethlehem Community) "Joyfully Serving Christ Together." Cost is $20 and includes t-shirt, lunch, musicians and program. We'd love to have you join us. Registration closes on September 28th at 3pm.
* NEW - LYO Western Cluster Rally - (open to ALL, even those not in the Western Cluster)
October 14th after the 100 Wells Concert at LRU, the Western Cluster will host dinner and a bonfire at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (approximately a mile away from the University). Cost for the evening is $5 and will include a pair of sunglasses (used as part of a short challenge activity in small groups), pizza dinner, drinks and s'mores. Out of respect for your travel schedules, we will be finished at 7:30 (concert ends at 5:30, dinner and bonfire to follow from about 6:00-7:30). RSVP by Friday, October 12th (yep! Just two days before, that way, you don't need to set a pressing deadline for your youth; just match it up with your ticket purchase for Sunday) Email Elizabeth Norris with your numbers at elizabeth.norris.0913@gmail.com
* NEW - LYO N. Central Cluster Rally - SAVE THE DATE: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1st - A DAY EVENT for Middle/Sr Youth in grades 6-12 for the North Central Cluster of the North Carolina Synod. (open to all) THEME: WE ARE BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING! More details will follow soon!
* NEW - LYO Eastern Cluster Rally & Hike-a-thon. Theme: "Fly Like an Eagle" - Isaiah 40:31 Dates: Friday & Saturday, November 9th & 10th Who's Invited: * LYO Rally: All middle & high school youth * Hike-a-thon: EVERYONE regardless of age! Where: * LYO Rally Host Church: Christ the King Lutheran Church (CTK)* Hike-a-thon and Basket Raffle: Camp Agape. For more information contact Kai or Corrine. Deadline is October 26th.
* NEW - Dave Scherer, also know as AGAPE has an opening in his tour schedule in the North Carolina area on March 17th. Contact Dave for more information.
Why Can't My Church Be More Like Camp? The Power of Immersion Learning in Faith Formation.
November 26-27, 2012Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN That's what kids ask all the time when they come back from camp. Great question, isn't it? We wonder the same thing, don't we? Why have we've given up on asking? We'll be digging into this topic theologically and experientially with both presentations and lots of opportunity for conversations to stretch your thinking. We've asked Mike King of YouthFront in Kansas City, a lifelong camp director who has moved his camper's experiences in profoundly new directions, and Paul Hill, head of Lutheran Outdoor Ministries and great student of all things CAMP to start the dialogue. But we're not staying at camp. The goal is to help you help your church be "more like camp."
* NEW - Go global and decorate a pennant!
Request an ELCA pennant streamer for your fall gatherings or Sunday school and invite people to sign it to show that we are all "linked" in Christ's global church! Then mail it back so it can be linked with others and proudly displayed next August at the Missionary Sponsorship breakfast at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly. See www.ELCA.org/global-links
* NEW - Don't let busy schedules and tight budgets prevent you growing and enhancing your ministry skills!
Vibrant Faith Ministries' popular Webinar Week makes it possible to attend seminars from the comfort of your home or office. A computer is all you need to participate! Here's how it works:Webinar Week runs Monday, October 15th through Wednesday, October 17th, 2012. The cost is $89.95 per person. Early bird registrants save $10 by signing up by Friday, October 5th! Attend as many webinars as your schedule allows. Each webinar is 60 minutes long with an additional 15 minutes allotted for Q&A.The registration deadline is Friday, October 12th. After registering, an e-mail message will be sent to each participant with webinar information.
* If you are a Twitter fan, you can also find the latest updates via LutheranYouth. Subscribe and enjoy.
* The September Caring Conversation Challenge is well underway. Each day I'm posting a caring conversation question for you to use with your family, friends, youth group, council, etc. These are posted on the Facebook page (NC Synod Youth and Family Ministry) and on our home page (www.lutheranyouth.org) in the bottom left corner. Join the conversation....
* I have two openings in a new pilot project based on Jim LaDoux' new book, Surface to Soul. I'm working with five people for the next several months to weekly walk through the workbook on Coaching Spiritual Vitality in Congregations. Email me if you'd like to know more. This would mean 30 minute coaching contact each week via web or phone. Free.
*Our next Youth & Family Network meeting will be October 9th at the Synod Office from 10-noon. This meeting is open to all. You can even join us via the web if you'd like. Email Tammy for web details. Our topic for October - communication. * YARP Training - who do you know? November 16-18 we will gather in Taylorsville (also known as Tammy's basement) for training. Young Adult Resource Persons are those who are willing to volunteer their time to help out with lock-ins, trainings, events, etc. Typically 18-22 year olds. Who do you know that has leadership gifts that would be willing to serve? * The Practice Discipleship website is up and folks are adding all materials from the Practice Discipleship work. Check it out - use the worship with your congregation; use the small group materials with your council; use the webinars with your teams - it's free - take advantage of these great resources. * 100 Wells tour, October 14th at Lenoir-Rhyne University. 3pm. Mark your calendars now. Lost and Found, Agape and Rachel Kurtz. Should be a great time. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door. * The next Living Room Summit will take place on October 2-4, 2012 in Minneapolis, MN. Join Lyle Griner, Andrea Fieldhouse Griner, and Marilyn Sharpe in their own living rooms and congregations, in the very places that people live their faith. Experience three solid family ministries in three days. * On our website we have the opportunity to include pictures (slides really that change) on the homepage. I'd love to have pictures of your trips, events, etc. Email me with a 1-2 paragraph description and see your group on the www.lutheranyouth.org homepage. |
| Calendar | 
October 9 - Y&F Network Meeting - Synod Office, Salisbury
October 13 - Lenoir-Rhyne Homecoming
October 14 - 100 Wells Tour at LR - Lost and Found, Agape and Rachel Kurtz 3pm
October 14 - Western Cluster LYO event - Holy Trinity. Dinner and Bonfire. $5
November 1-4 - the Event - leadership training for LYO Presidents - Nebraska
November 9-10 - Eastern Cluster LYO event - CTK, Cary and Camp Agape
November 16-18 - YARP Training - Taylorsville. Email Tammy to reserve your spot. December 1 - N. Central Cluster LYO event - details soon.
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Resource Suggestion
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I'll be highlighting resources - one you can purchase and one that's free. Enjoy and let me know what you'd recommend.
*  NEW - Comfy Chair Cards - The Comfy Chair is a fun way to get youth talking about issues of faith and life. 150 cards with three questions on each card. Order at By The Way Ministries. $15
* NEW - ELCA Malaria Campaign - resources for stomping out malaria. Check out the net corsage craft as an idea for heightening awareness in your congregation. FREE
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| Outdoor Ministry Happenings | 
* October 20th - Help get Camp Agapé ready for the fall season!
We'll be sprucing up landscaping, working on trails, and of course taking care of that ever popular task - bulk mail! Other projects to be announced on our website soon. Lodging is available Friday night. Reservations are
required. (You need to bring your own bedding & towels.) Breakfast and lunch provided on Saturday; other meals are on your own.
To make reservations, please call 919.552.9421 or
email us at ACEed@agapekurebeach.org
* November 10th - Hike, Zip, and Win at the ACE Education Hike-a-thon and Basket Raffle
Agapé Center for Environmental Education, November 10, 8:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Camp Agapé
Come out to Camp Agapé to hike, zip, and help raise money for the Agapé Center for Environmental Education. Lunch is free, there will be snacks on the trail and all participating hikers will be eligible for door prizes! Try out our new zip-line (for a small fee) and get to the Sweet Gum trail really fast! Make sure you also check out all the great baskets at our Basket Raffle. You might just win a cool Trader Joe's or Birds Unlimited basket! Just download and fill out the hiker registration form and send it along with any pledges or trail sponsors you get to Agapé before October 27. Questions? Contact Mir at 919.552.9421 or via email at ACEed@agapekurebeach.org.
* NEW - BYG Leaders - November 30 - December 2 - Camp Agapé
Need new Youth Ministry Ideas? Do you need to be re-energized? Learn how to lovingly discipline? Learn how to build a group? Want to understand why to play games? In BYG Leaders you will gather with other Youth Leaders (volunteer & paid) to learn from one another, ask questions, and examine the Agapé process used for teaching. We will share some skills, and experience together some tricks of the trade. Contact us at 919.552.9421 or via email at program@agapekurebeach.org for more details. Registration required.
* NEW - O' Holy Night ONE EVENING ONLY! Three show times! Registration required. December 22, 2012 Camp Agapé Are you looking for a unique way to celebrate Christmas with your family or youth group this year? How about under the stars at Camp Agapé? Our O' Holy Night program has steadily grown over the years into the beautiful tradition it is today. Join us Saturday, December 22 for Christmas carols, food and the Christmas story told camp style. Show times are 5:30, 6:45 and 8:00 PM. Refreshments will be served starting a half hour before each show. So plan to come early for fellowship and food! Registration required. Contact us at 919.552.9421 or via email at agape@agapekurebeach.org for more information. 
* NEW - Mission Trips just for YOUR group.
Lutherock Only: We help set up your work sites for you, but you are the primary contact with work sites. There will be three days of work. Our counselors go with you and take care of your campers while you are around camp. You provide transportation for the group. Non-working days will be spent in camp adventure activities, ropes course, pool time, challenge tower or you could add whitewater rafting or caving for an additional fee. Our staff have responsibility for your youth. Cost: $375 per youth if reserved by December 1. One adult free with every 12 campers.
Lutheridge or Lutherock: We provide you with contacts and you customize your own trip directly with work sites. We provide you with a director who will act as your concierge in helping you get around Lutheridge or Lutherock. You bring chaperones and supervise your youth. Groups will get time to unwind in the pool, grow as leaders and as a team on the group interaction course, and step out of comfort zones on the climbing tower. Additional activities such as rafting are available for an additional fee. Cost: $300 per youth/adult if reserved by December 1.
* Faith Alive at Lutheridge - Four weekends - SEVEN Retreats. Campers in both retreats will enjoy games, songs, crafts and other camp activities. The two groups will come together for Saturday campfire and Sunday worship. Lutheridge counselors provide leadership and stay with campers and help confirmation "get real and come alive for teens." Cost per camper includes lodging, meals & snacks, counselor supervision and other program costs. September 28-30. The Apostles Creed and the Lord's Prayer November 9-11 - Old Testament Overview February 15-17, 2013 - Holy Baptism and Holy Communion April 19-21 - Ten Commandments and Reformation Check these out. * Wild Women Weekends 2013 ~ Biblical Leadership Adult women of all ages and life situations have five opportunities to gain strength and vision for the new year. Bring a group to deepen fellowship with women you know - or come alone to find kindred spirits in Wild Women from across the southeast. This year we'll explore biblical leadership as we meet Deborah, Huldah, Lydia, Pricilla, Phoebe, and others whom God calls. Come to discover your own unique leadership style and learn how to say YES and NO to leadership roles in faithful ways.
The fee includes housing in Kohnjoy, Thornburg, Hilltop Cottages, or Lakeside Village; meals; and all program costs. Register Early! Leader: Pastor Mary Canniff-Kuhn, Lutheridge Program Director 2013 Dates: January 25-27, February 1-3, February 8-10,March 15-17 Cost per Person for 2013: $190 per person (includes 2 nights lodging, all meals, and on-site program costs)
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A Story to share...
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"God's work, our hands"
From January to June 2012, 58 awareness sessions in Zimbabwe were carried out by "Malaria Focal Persons" about one every three days. More than 690 community members throughout Zimbabwe were trained in malaria treatment methods, including rapid diagnostic testing, intermittent preventive treatment and early treatment-seeking behaviors.
"The statistics are compelling, even more so when we realize that each awareness session, each rapid diagnostic kit, each dose of malaria medication represents entire lives that have been changed and enriched by the work of the ELCA Malaria Campaign," said Jessica Nipp Hacker, coordinator of the ELCA Malaria Campaign.
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Tammy Jones West, AIM
Youth & Family Ministry Coordinator
NC Synod ELCA
828.308.1362
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